Mellower now, John McEnroe wants today's players to get mad

This image released by Little, Brown and Company shows “But Seriously,” by John McEnroe. Life after his tour career is the focus of McEnroe’s new book in which he details the ups and downs of his many roles outside of tennis. (Little, Brown and Company via AP)(Photo: The Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — John McEnroe wants more anger in tennis.

Not the kind of racket-smashing, profanity-flying tantrums he threw as a player, when he could go from the sport’s best player to its baddest boy in the same service game.

He wants to see players get fed up that they can’t break through against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, that they remain stuck behind Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray heading into Wimbledon.

“Those are the two greatest players that ever played in my opinion right now, Nadal and Federer, but I’m amazed that guys aren’t hungrier or angrier about sort of their lack of success,” McEnroe said. “I mean, these guys are tremendous and better than the guys for the most part, but not every single day. You’ve got to come at these guys with everything you’ve got.”